CHAPTER 114

AN ACT to amend the Code of Virginia by adding a new section thereto
numbered 46-5.1, authorizing the governing body of any city or town
to provide for the removal, impounding, storage and sale of motor
vehicles, trailers or semitrailers, abandoned or found unaccompanied
by the owner or operator on the public streets or public grounds
thereof where the same cause a hazard to traffic or an inconvenience
to the citizens of such city or town; providing for the sale thereof
ont payment of costs incidental to the removal, tmpounding, storage
a ;

(H 2865]
Approved February 23, 1956

Be it enacted by the General Assembly of Virgmia:

1. That the Code of Virginia be amended by adding thereto a section
numbered 46-5.1 as follows:

§ 46-5.1. The governing body of any city or town is authorized te
provide by ordinance that whenever any motor vehicle, trailer or semi-
trailer, is abandoned on the public streets or public grounds of such city
or town, or is found on the public streets or public grounds of such city
or town unaccompanied by the owner or operator, and constitutes a
hazard to traffic or is parked in such manner as to be in violation of law
and an inconvenience to the citizens of such city or town any such motor
vehicle, trailer or semitrailer may be removed for safekeeping by or
under the direction of an officer of such city or town to a storage garage
or area designated in said ordinance. Each such removal shall be imme-
diately reported to a central office in such city or town and notice thereto
given to the owner of such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer as
promptly as possible. Such owner, before obtaining possession of such
motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer, shall pay to the city or town all
reasonably necessary costs incidental to the removal, storage and locating
such owner of such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer. Should the owner
fail or refuse to pay such costs, or should the identity or whereabouts of
such owner be unknown and unascertainable after a diligent search has
been made, and after notice to such owner at his last known address and
to the holder of any lien of record in the office of the Division of Motor
Vehicles in Virginia against such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer,
the officer designated by such governing body of such city or town may,
after holding said motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer ninety days and
after due notice of sale dispose of the same at public sale and the proceeds
from such sale shall be forwarded by him to the treasurer or similar
officer of such city or town. The treasurer or other officer of such city or
town shall pay from such funds cost of removal, storage, investigation
as to ownership and liens, notice and sale, and the balance of such funds
shall be held by him for the owner of such motor vehicle, trailer or semi-
trailer at the time of its removal.

If after the sale or other disposition of such motor vehicle, trailer
or semitrailer the ownership thereof at the time of its removal is estab-
lished satisfactorily to the treasurer or other officer of such city or town
by the person claiming such ownership, he shall be paid by the treasurer
or other officer of such city or town so much of the proceeds from the sale
or other disposition of such motor vehicle, trailer or semitrailer as
remain after paying the charges set forth herein.